Automatic switch



0a. 18, 1932. H, n Y DER 1,883,267

AUTOMATIC SWITCH Filed March 3. 1928 E v7U 5/0420? Wade/ Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNI I HOWARD D. YODER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO PENBERTHY INJECTOR COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE AUTOMATIC SWITCH Application filed March 3, 1928.

This invention relates to automatic switches and the like, and more particularly to mechanisms for automatically actuating switches for making and breakin electrical circuits, and is especially adapta le for use with mercury switches although the mechanism may be used for the actuation of other types of switches and similar devices as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the past many and varied types of mechanism have been employed for the actuation of mercury switches, contact makers, or circuit breakers, or the like, but these former devices have, in many instances, proven objectionablein that they were not sufficiently frictionless nor as rapid in action as may be desired. Also, in most instances, they were not suitable for compacting into a small space, nor for operation with a light motor spring or the like over long periods oftime. Especially were these objections true when the mechanism was actuated by or responsive to a true reciprocatory member.

The present invention has'been designed to overcome the above noted defects and objections in the provision of switch mechanism in which friction has been reduced to substan tially a minimum, and in which lost motion, dead center creep, or the like, has been eliminated. 1

The invention also seeks to provide quick acting mechanism of thetype described herein which is readily responsive to true reciprocatory motion;

A- further object of the present invention is to provide switch actuatingmechanism simple in structure, compactly arranged, and mountable upon various machines and other devices.

'While some of the more salient features, characteristics, and advantages, of a device embodying this invention have been above pointed out,- others will become apparent from the'following disclosures.

The invention includes these and other features of' construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and shown in a preferred form in the drawing, and more particularly indicated by the claim.

1.11 the drawing:

Serial No. 258,77

Figure 1 is a view in elevation, with parts in section, showing a self-driven rotary pump unit equipped with a switch mechanism embodying principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the switch mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is asectional view in elevation taken substantially along line IIIIII of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View taken along line IVIV of Figure 2.

As shown in the drawing:

In the illustrated embodiment of this invention, a preferred form of the same is shown mounted on a rotary pump unit generally designated by reference numeral 1, but it is to be clearly understood that the invention may be as readily mounted upon vari ous other machines or devices as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

Thepump l, in this instance, comprises a lower section 2 which houses the pump vanes driven by a shaft enclosed in a cylindrical casing or sleeve 3. The pump shaft is in turn driven by an electric motor contained within a superstructure or housing 4:- Slidable upon the casing or sleeve 3 is a float 5 which rises and falls according to the liquid levelat the place of disposition of the pump. On each side of the float 5 is a clamping member 6 slidable on the sleeve 3 but fixedly con nected to a rod 7 which passes through the float. Itis apparent, therefore, that when the liquid level rises sufliciently to raise the float 5 to the upper clamp 6, any further rise in the liquid level will cause the float to move the rod 7 upwardly, and on the other hand, as the liquid level drops, the float will bear against the lower clamp 6 and force the rod 7 downwardly. To render the pump unit selfoperative novel means actuated by the float 5 through the rod 7, have been provided to make and break the circuit through the mo tor in accordance with the rise and fall of the liquid level. The means, inthis instance, comprise a protective casing 8 within which is disposed a supporting member 9 provided with a pair of oppositely disposed apertured lugs 10 through which suitable bolts 11 pass to secure the supporting member 9 as well as the casing 8 to the lower portion of the superstructure 4. The supporting member 9 is provided with an outwardly extending portion 12 thereon provided with an aperture through which a plunger 13 extends. The plunger 13 is also guided by a boss 14 formed in the lower wall of the casing 8, and is bifurcated at its lower end to receive the upper end of the rod 7, the connection being completed by the cotter pin 15.

The supporting member 9 is provided with a pair of integral depending arms 16 in each of which is substantially a V-notch 17, the notches being in register with each other. Pivotally associated with the arms 16 is a yoke-like member 18 also provided with a pair of arms 19 and 20, respectively, adapted to embrace the outer sides of the arms 16. Each of the arms 19 and 20, however, is provided on its inner side with a flange-like portion 21 terminating in a knife edge, as indicated at 22, engaged in one of the notches 17. The arm on the yoke 18 is also provided with an integral angular portion 23 which carries a clamp 24 for a mercury switch 25.

The pivotal yoke 18 is operatively connected to the plunger 13 by means of a coiled spring 26, one end of which is fixedly secured to the yoke 18, as indicated at 27, the other end being fixedly secured to the plunger 13, as indicated at 28. To maintain the proper balance of the various parts and to prevent 1 any relative transverse movement between the pivotal yoke and the arms 16.on the supporting member 9, the spring 26 prefer-ably passes midway between the arms 16 and is united to the yoke at substantially the midpoint of the latter.

A panel 29, having binding posts 30, 31, and 32, respectively thereon, is secured to the outer end of the supporting member 9 preferably by bolts 33 which, in this instance,

1 extend entirely through the supporting member 9 to the rear casing wall, thereby adding to the rigidity of the structure as a whole. The panel and binding posts serve. to provide simple, means for readily establishing the various connections.

The electrical connections in the present invention are extremely simple and include a pair of conductors 34 and 35, respectively, adapted for connection with a source of electrical energy by means of an ordinary light socket or the like. These conductors enter the casing 8 through an aperture in the side thereof which is sealed against moisture and the elements by a bushing 36. The conductor 34 is attached to the binding post 32, and the conductor 35, to the binding post 30. Conductors 37 and 38, respectively, which are secured to the terminals within, the mercury switch 25, are secured to binding posts 32 and 31 respectively. A third pair of conductors 39 and 40 secured to binding posts 31 and 30, respectively, extend upwardly through an aperture 41 in the top of the casing 8 and are connected to the motor housed in the superstructure 4. In the present invention, therefore, it will be apparent that the current will pass from the line through conductor 34 to binding post 32, thence through conductor 37 and the mercury within the switch 25, back through conductor 38 to the binding post 31, up through conductor 39 to the motor, returning through conductor 40 to the binding post and back through conductor to the other side of the line. Mercury switches are usually made with substantially short leads secured thereto and not removable therefrom without a partial destruction of the switch. The

binding posts 31 and 32, in this instance, afford easy and simple means for connecting the short mercury tube leads designated as 37 and 38, respectively.

The operation of the present invention is simple and accurate. Assuming that the liquid level adjacent the lower portion of the pump 1, is relatively high, the float 5 will rise and push against the upper clamp 6, thereby moving the rod 7 and plunger 13 in the same direction. As the plunger 13 moves upwardly it carries the spring connection 28 therewith, and when this connection passes the dead center position of the pivotal member 18, which position will be directly opposite the apices of the V-notch 17, the yoke 18 will pivot upwardly on the knife edges 22 in the notches 17 and incline the forward end of the mercury switch downwardly as shown by the full lines in Figure 3, thereby closing the circuit through the motor and actuating the pump. As the liquid level drops the float 5 will, of course, descend and when it pushes against the lower clamp 6, the plunger 13 will be pulled downwardly. When the spring connection 28 again passes the mid-center point the yoke 18 will be pivoted downwardly and the forward end of the mercury tube will be raised as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 3, thereby breaking the circuit and causing the pump to cease operation. As seen more clearly in Figure 4, the upper and lower edges of the arms 16 are bevelled as indicated at 42 and 43, respectively, to provide stops limiting pivotal motion of the member 18, in either direction.

It is to be noted that the knife edges 22 pivoting in the notches 17 substantially eliminate friction in the device and afi'ords no lost motion or dead center creep whatsoever. Although this is a preferred form of construction, it is obvious that pivot pins or the like may be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Obviously, too, the structure embodied in the present invention although highly desirable for use with a reciprocatory actuating member, may

also be actuated by means embodying Various other types of motion.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided switch mechanism for making and breaking circuits, which is rigid, quick acting, reliable, compact in structure, adaptable for mounting upon various machines or devices, and which may be economically manufactured.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be Varied through a Wide range without departing from the principles of this inven tion and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

In a switch mechanism including a switch operating plunger, a housing in which said plunger terminates, a supporting member in said housing, an outwardly extending portion of said member having an aperture through which said plunger extends, a pair of integral parallel depending arms on said supporting member, each having a V-shaped notch, the notches being in alignment with each other on vertical edges of said arms, a yoke-like member pivotally associated with the pair of arms, a pair of arms on said yoke-like member adapted to embrace the outer side of the depending arms, a flange like portion on the inner side of each of said yoke arms, each of said portions terminating in a knife edge, a spring connected at one end of said plunger and at the other end to the middle of said yoke, said spring serving to hold said knife edges in engagement with the notches and to move said yoke when said plunger passes the dead center position of said yoke, an integral annular portion on one of said yoke arms, a clamp carried by said annular portion, and a mercury switch in said clamp and movable with said yoke into and out of circuit closing position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

HOWARD D. YODER. 

